Kevin Torres, a reporter for KUSA-Channel 9 since 2009 who was abruptly fired from the station two weeks ago, will begin a trial/freelance assignment at KDVR-Channel 31/KWGN-Channel 2 this week.

Neither Torres nor 9News management would discuss the reason for his dismissal at KUSA. Within the industry, it is well known that a traffic citation involving the station-owned vehicle preceded Torres’ being let go from the station, but it is unclear what role that incident played in the decision.

On his Facebook page, Torres made an appeal to his social media followers to switch station allegience and stay tuned to his reporting.

Torres has made a name with his “Storytelling” segments on 9News and told his followers he hopes to continue using those skills in his new post.

The traffic citation’s nothing compared to the 9 News reporter they had to fire about 10 years ago. I think his name was Andrew Resnick–middle aged news caster who should behave in an upright manner so that people can trust what he reports. Well, he got arrested for doing Ecstasy at a college age rave. He disappeared from Denver media shortly thereafter and probably bolted Denver altogether after that humiliation.

Jon

On-air reporters are like politicians, Hollywood celebrities, and others who put their face in the public spotlight for a living. They have a responsibility to their followers/fans, especially when they’re on the job. Best he own up publicly before the rumor mill creates something worse. He’ll earn the respect that he’s striving for if he does. As long as he, a reporter of all things, conceals his public transgressions he doesn’t deserve a loyal following.

Jason

So what happened? Kind of hypocritical that there’s no reporting on the “facts” of the incident given the Denver media’s willingness to destroy other people’s lives on a nightly basis but protects their own. After all, Torres is a public figure, right?

TimJ

Completely hypocritical. Not one ounce of investigation done by the media on one of their own. I certainly doubt it was just a traffic citation. One report said that he was fired on the spot and someone else had to clean out his desk. That does not happen in any industry because of a traffic citation. What does it say about KDVR’s ethics that they would so quickly hire someone who just weeks earlier wasn’t even allowed to clean out their own desk?

nickolasb

If he had done anything major it would have been reported by the police and other media outlets would have had a field day with it. The “traffic citation” sounds like it was an excuse to let him go and to cover their own asses. Regardless of what it really was about, he is a great reporter and acting like this makes him a horrible person or doesn’t deserve a job is ridiculous. He is human and makes mistakes just like everyone else, except he is living up to an idealized version of himself that the public assumes he is. To question ethics of KDVR, KWGN and any other station who hires him is laughable and stupid. He had to disclose anything before they hired him. Stop persecuting people just because you have a tv set and think you know the real story, none of us do and certainly don’t have the right to know because he isn’t a criminal and the matter is closed.

JustSayinEP

Well, a switch from Non News to Faux News. As long as he can do a condescending “tsk tsk” on camera, what’s the difference?

daddymike

Traffic citation? Quick dismissal? Maybe Torres had some pot in the CH9 vehicle?

oilburner

is Taunia Hottman out too? Her Twitter bio now says “retired Denver Reporter”

Joanne Ostrow has been watching TV since before "reality" required quotation marks. "Hill Street Blues" was life-changing. If Dickens, Twain or Agatha Christie were alive today, they'd be writing for television. And proud of it.